March 11, 2012

My niece helped me pick this week’s street. Our criteria was that it must have an amusing name. NE Juneberry St won out. Turns out it is one of the Issaquah Highlands’ many many “private” streets. I’m not sure what necessitates all this privacy. There’s nothing on the street but houses, so there’s not really any reason for anyone to go there who doesn’t live there or know someone who does. In fact, that’s true for most of the Highlands. Map.

Bike/ped-only connections: This is one thing the Highlands developer got right at least for pedestrians. There are staircases between all the culdesacs and the nearest streets. Three of them on this short stretch of street alone. Not much help if you’re pushing a stroller, though.

Potential improvements: The built environment of this street is basically appropriate for its location. It’s essentially a driveway with slow traffic, so bikes should be able to share the road. The street is close enough to NE Park Dr that it would benefit if bus service is ever extended up into the Highlands proper.

March 8, 2012

NW Dogwood St is one of only two through streets between Front St N and Newport Way. As such, it sees heavy vehicle usage with relatively high speeds as drivers use it to circumvent traffic delays on other local streets. It has a mix of residential densities from single-family dwellings to large apartment complexes. Map.

Bike/ped-only connections: There’s a pedestrian-only trail at the end of 3rd Pl NW which connects through to Holly St. Though it’s mostly blocked by a fallen tree at the moment. Pedestrian crossing signal at Front St that takes forever to change.

Green: About midway down there’s a bridge across Issaquah Creek with attendant greenery. Otherwise, street trees and landscaping.

Potential improvements: This street really deserves a full buildout with sidewalks and bike lanes. As it is, it’s a street with faster-than-speed-limit traffic and nowhere for pedestrians to walk. On the cheaper side, the pedestrian signal at Front Street should really be more responsive.